FAQ

How should I prepare for my appointment?

Make sure you are well rested, have eaten recently, make sure you bathe before you come in and make sure you’re hydrated. You can bring snacks and drinks, anything with some sugar in it. Fruit, energy bars, juice, candy and soda are all helpful while your tattoo gets underway. Have your phone or tablet charged, you can bring headphones and music. Only one person is allowed in the back while you get tattooed, and please do not bring children with you on the day of the appointment. Make sure you bring a valid ID that has a photo and birthdate on it (driver’s license, state-issued non-driver’s license, and passports are all good examples).

How do I make an appointment?

To make an appointment we require a $100 deposit. This assures the date and time of the appointment, and will get deducted from the balance once the tattoo is completed. This can be done in person, or over the phone with a credit card. We recommend you schedule a free consultation to speak to an artist in person if something needs to be drawn up ahead of time. This gives the artist time to draw, and can give you a better idea of what the tattoo will cost. For cover ups or reworking an existing tattoo, a consultation is mandatory.

Can I just walk in?

We do take “walk ins” as long as the tattooers are available. We suggest you call the day you want to walk in just to check how busy the artists are and so we can suggest the best time to come in so the wait time is minimal. If your tattoo needs to be drawn up, we suggest you schedule a consultation with an artist so when you do come in, you aren’t waiting around while the tattoo is drawn up.

Can I bring photos/ imagery to the shop or consultation?

Yes! We encourage you to bring reference material with you. While we prefer you bring imagery other than photos of other people’s tattoos, you can bring anything that helps describe what you’re looking to do. We will not copy another person’s tattoo, so be prepared for us to redraw anything so you end up with an original piece. A good example would be if you wanted a flower, bring in photos of that flower you like, as opposed to photos of tattoos of that flower. We can also draw for you from scratch if you know what you want but don’t have any imagery for us to look at. For this, a consultation prior to the tattoo appointment is best (unless it’s super simple).

What if I have to reschedule?

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, we require 48 hours notice to have your deposit returned or rolled over for a rescheduled appointment. A portion of the deposit may apply as an art fee for cancellations if the artist has put a fair amount of time into the drawing.

Can you fix or cover up old tattoos?

We specialize in cover ups and revitalizing old tattoos. Consultations are mandatory for these so we can see the work in person, and can go over your options for the best result.

Hand /finger /foot tattoos?

Hands and feet are tricky areas to tattoo. The skin exfoliates at a much higher rate than other parts of the body, which means you are shedding skin cells at a much higher rate than the rest of the body. This can result in fading, “bleeding” (when the ink spreads under the skin), or parts of the tattoo disappearing altogether. A lot of tattooers refuse to tattoo these parts of the body for those reasons. We are willing to tattoo hands and feet as long as the client has all the information we can give on what the outcome could be. These are parts of the body where there is no guarantee of how it will heal. You can google image “healed hand tattoo,” “healed finger tattoo,” or “healed foot tattoo” to get an idea of what a tattoo on these areas can look like after healing.

Safety is ensured by use of a method called “single service.” This means that every item that comes in contact with a customer must be properly disposed of or sterilized. It also means that nothing is used twice – from needles to ink caps, cups to razors – nothing is reused. 90% of everything we use in the process is disposable. Every set of needles used to apply your tattoo is brand new. They are individually packaged, sealed, and sterilized in an autoclave. We open them in the presence of each customer. After use, the needles are disposed of. Our tubes and grips (which hold the needles in place) are prepackaged, disposable, and used once and thrown away.

Above all, we care for our customers. In protecting our customers we also protect ourselves; remember we are at a higher risk because of the number of people we work on daily, so safety is for our benefit as well. Making you feel safe and comfortable are of top priority to us.

AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS
Leave your bandage on for at least four hours — overnight if you received the tattoo late in the evening, (before your bedtime).
Handwash it using warm water & soap — do not use cloths or sponges. Soak the bandage while removing it, and wash it with antibacterial soap and water.
Do not rebandage the tattoo. Wash tattoo at least twice a day while it is healing.
Apply light coats of Neosporin, or Bacitracin for the first 3 – 5 days, then switch to a moisturizing lotion (such as Lubriderm). Lotions are safest to use in warm weather, (Be careful with lotions containing excessive alcohol). Keeping the tattoo moist will speed the healing process. But, your tattoo also needs to breathe. Heavy application of petroleum-based ointments can suffocate the tattoo and cause a rash. You can wet your tattoo, but don’t soak it in the tub or shower for a long time while it is healing.
Try to wear loose clothing around your tattoo.
It is normal for your tattoo to flake off tiny pieces of colored skin while it is healing. But, you don’t want to force it. Do not rub or scratch or pick your tattoo!
You can smack the tattoo if it itches too much.
Do not expose your tattoo to chlorine, salt, alcohol or sun for 10 days. Tattoos normally take 30 days to heal.
These are a good general rules of thumb, but you ever have a question or problem with your tattoo, you should call your tattoo artist immediately. They’ll be able to give you further instructions for proper care.